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Fermentation: A Process for Biofertilizer Production

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Microorganisms for Green Revolution

Part of the book series: Microorganisms for Sustainability ((MICRO,volume 6))

Abstract

Biofertilizers are the product of fermentation process, constituting efficient living soil microorganisms. They improve plant growth and productivity through supply of easily utilizable nutrients. They are cost-effective and eco-friendly bioinoculants having great potential to enhance agricultural production in sustainable way. Biofertilizers are grouped into different types based on their functions such as nitrogen-fixing, phosphate-solubilizing, phosphate mobilizing, and other plant growth-promoting biofertilizers promoting plant growth by different mechanisms. Solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation are two main types of fermentation, used for the production of biofertilizers. Each type of biofertilizer is prepared by selection of efficient microbial strain, its cultivation using specific nutrient medium, scale-up, and formulation using solid or liquid base. Knowledge about host specificity of the microbial strain and properties of soil and environmental conditions of the field are the important factors which determine the success of biofertilizer application. Recent developments in the field of microbial taxonomy, molecular biology, genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, computer science, and nanotechnology have played a significant role in the advancement of fermentation process of biofertilizer production. Hence, the production of biofertilizers having better efficiency, higher competitive ability, multiple functionality, and longer shelf life has become possible. Biofertilizers with such characteristics can be an effective substitute of chemical fertilizers. The present chapter deals with the types of biofertilizers, their applications and outcomes, types of fermentation processes used for biofertilizer production, and past and present status of fermentation technologies used for biofertilizer production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, 396 450, India

    Harish Suthar & Jaysukh Vaghashiya

  2. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Science, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390 002, India

    Krushi Hingurao

  3. Department of Fruit Science, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, 396 450, India

    Jivabhai Parmar

Authors
  1. Harish Suthar
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  2. Krushi Hingurao
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  3. Jaysukh Vaghashiya
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  4. Jivabhai Parmar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harish Suthar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Deepak G. Panpatte

  2. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Yogeshvari K. Jhala

  3. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Rajababu V. Vyas

  4. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Harsha N. Shelat

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Suthar, H., Hingurao, K., Vaghashiya, J., Parmar, J. (2017). Fermentation: A Process for Biofertilizer Production. In: Panpatte, D., Jhala, Y., Vyas, R., Shelat, H. (eds) Microorganisms for Green Revolution. Microorganisms for Sustainability, vol 6. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6241-4_12

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